Russia keeps attacking Ukraine, causing civilian deaths, Zelenskyy says

On the night of December 22 to 23, Russia carried out another series of massive attacks across Ukraine, targeting energy infrastructure and other civilian facilities.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on his Telegram channel that over 650 drones, including a significant number of Iranian-made Shahed drones, were launched during the attacks. In addition, Russian forces fired more than 30 missiles at Ukraine, Caliber.Az reports.

“The enemy continues trying to destroy our energy sector and disrupt the lives of our citizens. We understand the severe challenges ahead, but our air defence and energy teams are doing everything possible to mitigate the consequences,” Zelenskyy wrote.

The attacks resulted in civilian casualties. In Kyiv Oblast, one person was killed by a drone strike, while another death was confirmed in Khmelnytskyi Oblast. In Zhytomyr Oblast, a four-year-old girl was killed when a drone struck a residential building. Zelenskyy expressed condolences to the families of the victims.

Zelenskyy emphasised that the strikes were deliberate, noting their timing just before Christmas, when families were seeking safety at home, and amid ongoing negotiations aimed at ending the war.

The president said Russia remains unwilling to end the conflict. He called on the international community for stronger action, stressing the need not only for sanctions and diplomatic efforts but also for continued arms and energy support to bolster Ukraine’s defence and protect civilian lives.

By Khagan Isayev